A particulate plug for removing a preservative from a solution, suspension, or emulsion comprising a drug is presented. The plug comprises microparticles of a hydrophobic polymer/fatty acid blend. The microparticles of hydrophobic polymer/fatty acid blend selectively absorb preservative allowing the drug to remain in solution for delivery.

A liquid container includes: a case having a liquid introduction port through which liquid is introduced and a storage portion that stores the liquid; and an absorber stored in the case and configured to absorb the liquid. The absorber includes multiple absorbent resins that swell by absorbing the liquid and a substrate that supports the absorbent resins and allows the liquid to permeate therethrough. With the absorbent resins swelling by absorbing the ink, at least some of the absorbent resins are spaced apart from the adjacent absorbent resins.

A method for trapping noble gas atoms and molecules in oxide nanocages that includes providing oxide nanocages on a metallic substrate, ionizing a noble gas to form noble gas cations, applying a voltage to the metallic substrate, contacting the oxide nanocages with the noble gas cations, and deionizing the cations to form noble gas atoms and molecules that are trapped within the oxide nanocages. In one embodiment of the present device, polygonal prism organosilicate cages on a ruthenium thin film can trap noble gases.

A highly adsorptive structure includes: a substrate; and a carbon aerogel adhered to the substrate, wherein the carbon aerogel is characterized by having physical characteristics of in-situ formation on the substrate, and wherein the carbon aerogel is configured to selectively adsorb and desorb one or more refrigerants selected from the group consisting of: acid halides, alcohols, aldehydes, amines, chlorofluorocarbons, esters, ethers, fluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons, halocarbons, halogenated aldehydes, halogenated amines, halogenated hydrocarbons, halomethanes, hydrocarbons, hydrochlorofluorocarbons, hydrofluoroethers, hydrofluoroolefins, inorganic gases, ketones, nitrocarbon compounds, noble gases, organochlorine compounds, organofluorine compounds, organophosphorous compounds, organosilicon compounds, oxide gases, refrigerant blends and thiols.

A highly adsorptive structure, includes: a substrate; and a metal-organic framework (MOF) comprising a plurality of metal atoms coordinated to a plurality of organic spacer molecules; wherein the MOF is coupled to at least one surface of the substrate, wherein the MOF is adapted for adsorbing and desorbing a refrigerant under predetermined thermodynamic conditions. The refrigerant includes one or more materials selected from the group consisting of: acid halides, alcohols, aldehydes, amines, chlorofluorocarbons, esters, ethers, fluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons, halocarbons, halogenated aldehydes, halogenated amines, halogenated hydrocarbons, halomethanes, hydrocarbons, hydrochlorofluorocarbons, hydrofluoroethers, hydrofluoroolefins, inorganic gases, ketones, nitrocarbon compounds, noble gases, organochlorine compounds, organofluorine compounds, organophosphorous compounds, organosilicon compounds, oxide gases, refrigerant blends and thiols.

A polyolefin fiber that is formed by a thermoplastic composition containing a continuous phase that includes a polyolefin matrix polymer and nanoinclusion additive is provided. The nanoinclusion additive is dispersed within the continuous phase as discrete nano-scale phase domains. When drawn, the nano-scale phase domains are able to interact with the matrix in a unique manner to create a network of nanopores.

The present invention provides a technique for preparing a porous cellulose medium, through the gelation of a solution in which cellulose acetate as a raw material is dissolved, which does not cause a reaction involving the migration of substances. Specifically, a method for producing a porous cellulose medium is provided which includes the steps of gelling a flowable homogeneous composition containing cellulose acetate, an organic solvent, and water through a decrease in temperature; and hydrolyzing the cellulose acetate contained in the resulting gel.

The invention relates to a new use of spun, continuous inorganic fibers having a diameter smaller than 1 μm in the form of monolithic structures with at least one dimension equal to or greater than about 50 μm. The monolithic structures are formed by self-entanglement of the continuous fibers as an ion exchange material. In particular the invention relates to a new ion exchange material bed comprising such fibers and ion exchange unit comprising such bed. The invention improves the efficiency and sustainability of ion exchangers.

A method for removing carbon dioxide directly from ambient air, using a sorbent under ambient conditions, to obtain relatively pure CO.sub.2. The CO.sub.2 is removed from the sorbent using process heat, preferably in the form of steam, at a temperature in the range of not greater than about 130° C., to capture the relatively pure CO.sub.2 and to regenerate the sorbent for repeated use. Increased efficiency can be achieved by admixing with the ambient air, prior to contacting the sorbent, a minor amount of a preferably pretreated effluent gas containing a higher concentration of carbon dioxide. The captured carbon dioxide can be stored for further use, or sequestered permanently. The above method provides purified carbon dioxide for further use in agriculture and chemical processes, or for permanent sequestration.

The invention relates to a heat exchanger having at least one sorption duct in which is arranged a sorption medium and through which a fluid can be made to flow, characterized in that the heat exchanger also contains at least one catalyst with which a fuel can be converted exothermically such that at least some of the resulting heat can be conveyed to the sorption medium. The invention also relates to a method for heating and/or conditioning a gas stream, having at least the following steps: supplying a gas stream, containing multiple different components, into a sorption duct in which is arranged a sorption medium, such that at least one component is bound in the sorption medium, and supplying and exothermically converting at least one fuel under the action of a catalyst, such that at least one component of the gas stream is expelled from the sorption medium.